Whatever is your reason for deciding to undergo ear stretching, it is important that you know how it’s done. You also need sufficient information about the tools used for every method, keeping your ears safe and maintained, as well as the measurement you want to start on.

Firstly, it is for your own good that you consult with a professional ear piercer/stretcher about your plan. Although there are various do-it-yourself information guides on how to gauge ears, you need to make sure you're stretching your ears safely. This also guarantees excellent results as far as placement of piercing goes.

Next, decide on which piece of jewelry, tunnel or ring you want placed in your stretched ear. Remember that you never want to skip sizes while stretching your ears. Skipping gauges sizes might hurt and or damage your ears. Instead, get the taper and plug that is the next gauge up from your current piercing and stretch your ears. After that, you then wait for the area to completely heal before you move on to the next gauge.

If you opt to gauge your ears on your own, you could simply stretch using stainless steel and a plug to match the desired gauge size. Before doing so, rub and massage oil into your ears to make sure your ears are not dry. Once you’ve waited at least eight - ten weeks, your ears might be ready for the next larger gauge.

Ear stretching pros would use taper to ensure that the stretching results to the desired size. The taper, also called tapering ring, is slid through the piercing, followed

by the jewelry piece you want to use, and the taper is then removed at the back of your lobes.

Stretching should have very little pain. If you feel it hurts too much, or there is bleeding, then most likely your ears aren’t ready for the next gauge.